I see a lot of criticism of the Redskins for sending RG3 out to play in the playoffs yesterday after reinjuring his knee. It's easy to Monday morning quarterback, but Mike Shanahan deserves a break from the hammering he's taking over this. I mean it's not like he send a blind guy out on the football field where he'd be unable to defend himself. You save something that drastic for the Super Bowl.

Cutter wrote on Jan 7, 2013, 12:29:In the playoffs you step up and play through the pain. That's just how it goes. Plenty of players play with broken limbs, torn muscles, etc. It's why they get paid the big bucks. You have to want it or you'll never win.

Yeah, but you have to weigh likelihood of repeat injury. Like brain injuries. We've had way too many players come back from concussions too early and ruin their careers.

Knee injuries are ones you shouldn't rush, either. This was a playoff wildcard game, not the Superbowl. And RG3 is a rookie. You're right that this is what he gets paid for, but if he blows out his knee and ends his career he gets cut. Gets an insurance settlement, sure, but a fraction of what he'd earn on his career otherwise.

RG3 is probably the single most exciting rookie in decades. But he refused to let an expert look at his knee, he reinjured it, and he took probably took an unnecessary chance. He should have had it looked at, and if he demanded to play he shouldn't have started. He looked off the entire game. It was clear he shouldn't have been out there.

Great work ethic, and hopefully he'll have a long career, but his coach shouldn't have left him out there when it was so clear he was in pain.